Gwalior students to send 1000 sanitary pads to PM Modi to make them GST free

New Delhi: In an unusual way, students of Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior have started a campaign in which they will send sanitary napkins with messages on menstrual hygiene written on them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is being done to urge the Prime Minister to remove 12 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the product. In the campaign, students are encouraging women to write their views on menstrual hygiene on sanitary napkins. Once they collect 1,000 such napkins with messages, they will send them to the Prime Minister. The initiative launched on January 4 is gaining good support on social media. Students say that the campaign has been launched to create awareness among women on their empowerment. They believe that Prime Minister Modi can contribute in the campaign by removing the GST on sanitary napkins. Hari Mohan one of the student who began the campaign said,“Sanitary napkins have been placed under 12% GST. Women use things during their menstrual days, which is fatal to them. Instead of giving subsidy, it has been placed under the category of luxury items. So we started this campaign. We aim to send 1,000 pads to the government March 3."  

Sanitary napkins have been placed under 12% GST. Women use things during their menstrual days which is fatal to them. Instead of giving subsidy, it has been placed under luxury item. So we started this campaign. We aim to send 1000 pads to the govt by 3rd March: Hari Mohan pic.twitter.com/Fo0hI3NQV5

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2018

Another activist Preet Joshi said, “Women in rural areas can't spend Rs 100 on sanitary napkins. This situation discourages them from using sanitary napkins all the more. They end up falling prey to diseases. Free napkins, at least GST-free napkins, must reach women,” another activist, Preeti Joshi.

We started campaign on 4th January. Women in rural areas can't spend Rs 100 on sanitary napkins. This situation discourages them from using sanitary napkins all the more. They end up falling prey to diseases. Free napkin, at least GST free napkins, must reach women: Preeti Joshi pic.twitter.com/cQoaWm2hD4 — ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2018

It is to be noted that in November 2017, the Delhi High Court had asked the government an explanation on why sanitary napkins were not exempted from the GST. "You exempt bindi, kajal and sindoor. But you tax sanitary napkins. It's such a necessity. Is there any explanation for it," the bench asked the government. In response, the government officials have defended their move by saying that their decision was driven by a desire to protect local manufacturers. However, the campaign is gaining positive support on social media

There should be no GST on sanitary napkins

— Ramendra Jakhu (@rjakhu53) December 29, 2017

The government of india must recognise the need to make sanitary napkins tax free. Happy to see that the issue is being pursued by social workers in Gwalior. ????????#taxfreewings https://t.co/C95BX5TXs5 — Sushmita Dev (@sushmitadevmp) January 9, 2018

@ANI that is very vital issue and it's time to think it's envarmentfrendly dispose

— Bishwajit Das (@Bishwaj74090475) January 10, 2018

Bjp should realise...sex is by choice not periods....it's a matter of hygiene Modiji — ADV PRATIMA COUTINHO (@adv_coutinho) January 9, 2018